Architecture

Art and architecture share many similarities. They've influenced one another throughout history. However, trying to liken these two disciplines will inevitably lead to certain contractions.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that Art, in its broadest sense, is defined as a creation meant to trigger an emotional response which is generally related to aesthetic pleasure. It doesn't satisfy any of life's basic needs, but it leads to thoughts, reflections, and often taps into our subconscious and our memory. On the other hand, architecture's primary purpose is to shelter individuals and ensure their safety. Architecture is meant to serve a utilitarian purpose.

Today, architecture has gone far beyond this initial function. Architects have strived to combine engineering and aesthetic research to create buildings that are so out of the ordinary we wonder how they were designed. They want their creations to stand out and favour originality and creativity. Just like in arts, architecture is influenced by the historical, social, and political context of the time and each movement has its own characteristics, from baroque to futurism to Bauhaus. Modern architecture marked a turn in the history of architecture. Architects revolutionised the social scope of their discipline and took an industrialist approach to society and nature — avant-garde architects rubbed shoulders with artists such as Georges Braque, Piet Mondrian, and members of the De Stijl group. Le Corbusier is a pioneer in collective housing, and also took part in ambitious projects which aimed to rebuild entire cities, such as Chandigarh in India. Decorative arts also developed by taking inspiration from the conventions that governed modernist architecture.

Contemporary architecture might not be a specific movement per se, but buildings that fall into this category share certain attributes. Contemporary architecture is characterised by curvy lines and various volumes in a single structure, as seen with the Sydney Opera House. The architect Jørn Utzon explained that he didn't seek to create a building for this project, but an actual sculpture. The building continually renews itself with new meanings and experiences for each passerby. Architectural works often require periods of deep reflection and a long though process in order for the architect to envisage how to give their building a sense of character and soul.

Whether architecture is an art or not is a never ending debate, but it is undeniable that there are strong links between the two disciplines. There are many examples of collaborations between contemporary artists and architects, and today the works of the greatest architects are exhibited in museums along with their fellow artists.

Discover our selections of artworks inspired by art and architecture!

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Painting, NY only, Pappay

Pappay

Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€880

Painting, Roof View, Melinda Patrick

Melinda Patrick

Painting - 30.5 x 40.6 x 3.8 cm Painting - 12 x 16 x 1.5 inch

€330

Painting, Lake Home, Melinda Patrick

Melinda Patrick

Painting - 30.5 x 40.6 x 3.8 cm Painting - 12 x 16 x 1.5 inch

€341

Painting, Fish Camp, Melinda Patrick

Melinda Patrick

Painting - 25.4 x 50.8 x 3.8 cm Painting - 10 x 20 x 1.5 inch

€420

Painting, Allegory 8, Ouisam Melhem

Ouisam Melhem

Painting - 120 x 95 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 37.4 x 0.8 inch

€4,377

Painting, Study (2), Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

Painting - 80 x 98 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 38.6 x 1.6 inch

€2,590

Painting, Spin, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

Painting - 80 x 110 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 43.3 x 1.6 inch

€3,394

Painting, Old Barns, Milan Laciak

Milan Laciak

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€330

Painting, Aurora, Loi Duc

Loi Duc

Painting - 80 x 200 x 1 cm Painting - 31.5 x 78.7 x 0.4 inch

€8,750

Painting, Hoa Phong Tower, Loi Duc

Loi Duc

Painting - 100 x 100 x 1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch

€6,780

Painting, Red Dancer, Eric Tournaire

Eric Tournaire

Painting - 32 x 24 x 0.2 cm Painting - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

€480

Painting, Intervention, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

Painting - 19 x 18 x 2 cm Painting - 7.5 x 7.1 x 0.8 inch

€491

Painting, Urban oasis, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

Painting - 25 x 18 x 3 cm Painting - 9.8 x 7.1 x 1.2 inch

€491

Painting, Jungle Pete, Meleo

Meleo

Painting - 24 x 17 x 1 cm Painting - 9.4 x 6.7 x 0.4 inch

€300

Painting, Manarola, Anand Manchiraju

Anand Manchiraju

Painting - 101.6 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Painting - 40 x 40 x 0.1 inch

€8,039

Painting, Le sud, Lallement Martine

Lallement Martine

Painting - 46 x 55 x 2 cm Painting - 18.1 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

€450

Painting, Pink City, Anand Manchiraju

Anand Manchiraju

Painting - 76.2 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Painting - 30 x 40 x 0.1 inch

€5,359

Painting, Arlequin, Eric Khellas

Eric Khellas

Painting - 73 x 92 x 5 cm Painting - 28.7 x 36.2 x 2 inch

€1,210

Painting, Hôtel de la Tour, Kuteroff

Kuteroff

Painting - 80 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

€5,000

Painting, Urban Desert, Kuteroff

Kuteroff

Painting - 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

€4,100

Painting, Paradise, Kuteroff

Kuteroff

Painting - 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

€4,100

Painting, Le Port, Kuteroff

Kuteroff

Painting - 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

€4,100

Painting, Fun City, Kuteroff

Kuteroff

Painting - 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

€4,100

Painting, Khu Van Hoa. Hanoi, Loi Duc

Loi Duc

Painting - 80 x 200 x 1 cm Painting - 31.5 x 78.7 x 0.4 inch

€8,750

Print, NY bridge, Laurent Minguet

Laurent Minguet

Print - 40 x 40 x 4 cm Print - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€400

Sculpture, Broken Circle, Karine Giboulo

Karine Giboulo

Sculpture - 170 x 270 x 244 cm Sculpture - 66.9 x 106.3 x 96.1 inch

€34,390

Painting, Struttura del tempo, Moi.

Moi.

Painting - 80 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

€2,200

Painting, Estate infinita, Moi.

Moi.

Painting - 116 x 81 x 2 cm Painting - 45.7 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch

€3,200

Painting, Venice, Marion Zimmermann

Marion Zimmermann

Painting - 80 x 80 x 1.2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.5 inch

€840

Photography, Le confiné, Romain Liverato

Romain Liverato

Photography - 53.5 x 89 x 0.2 cm Photography - 21.1 x 35 x 0.1 inch

€350

Painting, Empañado, Ana Patitú

Ana Patitú

Painting - 65 x 50 x 3.5 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 1.4 inch

€1,350

Painting, DI1234, Antonin Grace

Antonin Grace

Painting - 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€415

Painting, DI1232, Antonin Grace

Antonin Grace

Painting - 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€415

Painting, Io sono che que sono, Moi.

Moi.

Painting - 150 x 150 x 2.4 cm Painting - 59.1 x 59.1 x 0.9 inch

€5,500

Painting, Érosion, Thierry Rouxel

Thierry Rouxel

Painting - 60 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€400

Painting, La Ciotat, Sophie Louiset

Sophie Louiset

Painting - 81 x 100 x 2.4 cm Painting - 31.9 x 39.4 x 0.9 inch

€1,900

Painting, Gold house, Benoît Mauduech

Benoît Mauduech

Painting - 97 x 130 x 4 cm Painting - 38.2 x 51.2 x 1.6 inch

€3,600

Painting, DI1219, Antonin Grace

Antonin Grace

Painting - 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€415

Painting, Moulin rouge, Volt

Volt

Painting - 60 x 80 x 1 cm Painting - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch

€380

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